Systematic Screening of Pupils in the Elementary Age Range At Risk for Behavior Disorders

Abstract

This paper describes a multiple gating screening procedure for the identification of elementary-aged pupils who are at risk for serious behavior disorders. This procedure, entitled Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders (SSBD), consists of three interrelated assessment stages with teacher judgment as the primary information source in screening Stages 1 and 2 and direct behavioral observations as the primary source in Stage 3. The SSBD is designed to improve the quality of referrals to multidisciplinary teams and to provide each pupil in regular classroom settings with an equal chance to be identified for both externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. The paper reviews some of the myriad problems associated with the definition, classification, assessment, and referral of pupils with behavior disorders. A rationale for the SSBD is presented; its operation is described and initial research conducted in its development and trial testing is presented and discussed. A year-long, formal test of the SSBD within an elementary school is also described. Results of this study indicated that the SSBD correctly classified 89.47% of pupils who had been identified as externalizers, internalizers, or normals by their respective teachers in screening Stage 1. The psychometric characteristics of the instruments in SSBD Stages 1, 2, and 3 are judged acceptable by the authors for their intended assessment purposes. Practical implications and uses of the SSBD are discussed, as is future planned research.